The body could then be lowered to the shoulder pad, the pad re-latched and the system considered "cocked" the process was reminiscent of a medieval crossbow. The PIAT was a little lighter 15kg vs 16kg and smaller 0.

Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd. Next Post Military passport Wehrmacht. In November during Operation Crusader , part of the North African Campaign , staff officers of the British Eighth Army were unable to find even a single instance of the Boys' knocking out a German tank. Although the PIAT was an effective for anti-tank combat, its principle of operation was exceptional and was not used in any other weapon. For this outstanding effort he was awarded the Victoria Cross, but the general opinion among the soldiers was that he received the award mainly for shooting this thing from the hip and not for taking out two tanks. The platform served beginning in and utilized the same launching principle as the PIAT. It had an effective direct fire range of yards meters. The user had to first place the PIAT on its butt , then place two feet on the shoulder padding and turn the weapon to unlock the body and simultaneously lock the spigot rod to the butt; the user would then have to bend over and pull the body of the weapon upwards, thereby pulling the spring back until it attached to the trigger and cocking the weapon.

An adjustable monopod was installed ahead of the trigger group for forward support. The recoil caused by the detonation of the propellant blew the spigot rod backwards onto the spring; this reduced the shock of recoil and automatically cocked the weapon for subsequent shots, eliminating the need to manually re-cock. PIAT was used by the British armed forces for some time after the Second World War, but was replaced by other weapons as soon as possible. The user had to first place the PIAT on its butt , then place two feet on the shoulder padding and turn the weapon to unlock the body and simultaneously lock the spigot rod to the butt; the user would then have to bend over and pull the body of the weapon upwards, thereby pulling the spring back until it attached to the trigger and cocking the weapon. Blu Edizioni. Within the restrictions of PIAT it was an astonishingly efficient weapon, but it would be inappropriate to call it popular among British and Allied soldiers. This complicated method of cocking the gun was only required for the first cocking before firing. Rifle, Anti-Tank,. Beyond its low complexity and low-cost nature, such weapons, inherently gave off no smoke from a launching projectile, keeping the crew's position safe from spotters.

The No. Learn how your comment data is processed. The PIAT was a little lighter 15kg vs 16kg and smaller 0. The tests with the new bomb were successful and the weapon went into production. Note, however, that troops were trained to cock the PIAT before expected use, and "in action the projector will always be carried cocked" but unloaded. Aiming was achieved by using the folding aperture sights along with two or three apertures in the rear sight blade with ranges from 50 to yards. Military Trader is packed full of the relics and stories about collecting that you love. It also notes that it may be used "as a house-breaker". Among other things, it was above all the ineffective light bombs of the weapon that led to this decision.

The PIAT also became a low-cost weapon that could be produced quickly during a time desperation for the British Empire. It was heavy, which meant that it was difficult for infantry to handle effectively, and was outdated; by it was effective only at short ranges, and then only against armoured cars and light tanks. Not an entirely popular weapon, the PIAT certainly filled a role and filled it effectively. An adjustable monopod was installed ahead of the trigger group for forward support. While the PIAT could be fired from a prone or kneeling position, it all but required the user to stand to cock it. The recoil caused by the detonation of the propellant blew the spigot rod backwards onto the spring; this reduced the shock of recoil and automatically cocked the weapon for subsequent shots, eliminating the need to manually re-cock. The platform served beginning in and utilized the same launching principle as the PIAT. Military History. It proved particularly effective in the close confines of urban warfare where hidden PIAT crews certainly held an edge against unsuspecting enemy tank crews. Therefore, Jefferis developed an effective hollow charge bomb in the following months, which he explained to various interested parties in February

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. At the front of the launcher was a small trough in which the bomb was placed, and the movable spigot ran along the axis of the launcher and into the trough. Now that the internal main spring was fully compressed, ready produce a substantial amount of force, a projectile was inserted into the awaiting trough. Designers looked to create a weapon that could launch larger projectiles with greater range than that of the No. It proved to be a heavy weapon that was difficult to arm and fire. Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. Type of Anti-tank weapon. The designer, Major Millis Jefferis was part of the Ministry of Defense 1 , an organization tasked with weapon development, and colloquially known as' Winston Churchill 's Toy Shop. First use of the weapon came from Canadian forces during the invasion of Sicily of July and the weapon did not disappoint.

The PIAT's general shape was tubular with a shoulder pad fitted to the rear and an open "trough", or tray, held at the front. The solution was found, however, in utilizing hollow-charge ammunition. It fired an 89mm HEAT round along with some special smoke rounds. The PIAT made use of a "hollow charge" projectile which was launched from a spring-loaded, tube-shaped launcher and became a proven commodity against all known enemy armor types of the day - despite the unit's cumbersome handling qualities and dangerous recoil forces. I—VI Enfield No. Type of Anti-tank weapon. Subscribe today for digital or print delivery! Table of Contents.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The body of the PIAT was then pulled up which moved both spring and spigot to an awaiting sear. Blacker called the weapon the 'Baby Bombard', and presented it to the War Office in After cocking the PIAT, the firing pin, which was propelled using the spring, activated the bomb's propellant, sending it out of the barrel. It entered service in mid, and was first used in action by Canadian troops during the Allied invasion of Sicily. Machine Guns. Aiming was achieved by using the folding aperture sights along with two or three apertures in the rear sight blade with ranges from 50 to yards. The body was then slid back to the shoulder pad and latched. Please leave this field empty First name. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Comment.

The blast of the cartridge blows up the projectile from the spigot. When Blacker was posted to other duties, Major Millis Jefferis took up the project. Some of these places include Ortona and Normandy. It usually had a 2-man crew, but it could also be operated by 1 person. The Spigot mortar design allowed a large calibre powerful shaped charge bomb [7] giving greatly increased penetration power over the previous anti-tank rifles, allowing it to remain effective for the rest of the war; its construction was relatively simple and robust without a conventional barrel; there was no back-blast unlike the contemporary American bazooka that might endanger friendly troops and give the user's position away, this also meant that the PIAT could be used in confined spaces as in urban warfare; compared to the previous anti-tank rifles the muzzle blast was minimal, also a potential concealment issue. Quando inglesi arrivare noi tutti morti. Submachine Guns. The PIAT was produced by a number of different manufacturers and it was designed because of the British need for an anti-tank weapon other than the Boys Anti-Tank Rifle.

There was disagreement over the name to be given to the new weapon. Blu Edizioni. In this design the spring hits the charge of the projectile. In any case, the hollow charge grenade of the PIAT could disable any standard battle tank and was thus comparable in performance to the American Bazooka and German Panzerfaust , although no chemical energy but mechanical springs were used for firing. The designer, Major Millis Jefferis was part of the Ministry of Defense 1 , an organization tasked with weapon development, and colloquially known as' Winston Churchill 's Toy Shop. Blacker took exception to this and suggested to Jefferis that they should divide any award equally after his expenses had been deducted. The Spigot mortar design allowed a large calibre powerful shaped charge bomb [7] giving greatly increased penetration power over the previous anti-tank rifles, allowing it to remain effective for the rest of the war; its construction was relatively simple and robust without a conventional barrel; there was no back-blast unlike the contemporary American bazooka that might endanger friendly troops and give the user's position away, this also meant that the PIAT could be used in confined spaces as in urban warfare; compared to the previous anti-tank rifles the muzzle blast was minimal, also a potential concealment issue. Wikimedia Commons. The grenades exited the launcher at feet per second and sighting was accomplished through an aperture device affixed to the upper left side of the weapon.

Wikimedia Commons. But if the bomb hit, it could take out any tank. However, the weapon did have drawbacks. Blacker had envisioned his weapon as something that could be used as a dual purpose launcher — either for high explosives in indirect fire like that of a mortar or in direct fire as an anti-tank weapon. World War II portal. Description It usually had a 2-man crew, but it could also be operated by 1 person. Basic operation involved the main spring interacting with a centrally-positioned spigot which fit inside the hollowed tail of the grenade projectile. Military History. After reworking the Arbalest , Blacker introduced it there as a combined weapon for fighting tanks and bombing. Additionally, no rocket propulsion meant that there was no back-blast to injure allies positioned aft of the weapon, allowed the weapon to fire relatively safely from confined spaces.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Instead of a barrel, there was a steel rod known as a 'spigot' fixed to a baseplate, and the bomb itself had a propellant charge inside its tail. The distance covered on the spigot gives the projectile sufficient accuracy on its way to the target. Brabantia Nostra. Although the technology existed, it remained for British designers to develop a system that could deliver shaped charge ammunition in a larger size and with a greater range than that possessed by the No. It usually had a 2-man crew, but it could also be operated by 1 person. See also the bazooka , which had similar early problems. Military Vehicle History and Research. Various resistance forces used the weapon.

By David Walsh. The body could then be lowered to the shoulder pad, the pad re-latched and the system considered "cocked" the process was reminiscent of a medieval crossbow. Such ranges forced the PIAT crew to remain dangerously close to their intended target. During the Warsaw Uprising , it was one of many weapons that Polish Underground resistance fighters used against German forces. Undoubtedly the best-known incident of this kind took place in Italy, when fusilier Jefferson jumped outside his ditch and knocked-out two Tiger tanks from close range firing from the hip with a PIAT. De ransel op de rug deel 2. Engagement ranges reached out to approximately yards though effective ranges were within yards and typically shorter for sure "kill". A PIAT cut open to reveal its workings with the large spring.

Therefore, Jefferis developed an effective hollow charge bomb in the following months, which he explained to various interested parties in February At the time that he developed the Baby Bombard and sent it off the War Office, Blacker was working for a government department known as MD1 , which was given the task of developing and delivering weapons for use by guerrilla and resistance groups in Occupied Europe. Views Read Edit View history. Action: Compressed Spring; Recoil-Cocked. The blast of the cartridge blows up the projectile from the spigot. However, they also found that once German tanks had been fitted with armoured skirts that detonated shaped charge ammunition before it could penetrate the tank's armour, the weapon became much less effective. The adjustable nature of the monopod allowed for a wide range of trajectories to be reached. Instead the projectile is fired from the spigot — usually a heavy steel rod — that is driven into the shallow tail of said projectile. It proved to be a heavy weapon that was difficult to arm and fire.

While the weapon was replaced by the American bazooka as the main anti-tank weapon used by British and Commonwealth forces, the PIAT remains a fascinating part of the history of the British arsenal of small arms. Retrieved 27 April Nobody objected to the Boys rifle, although that had a rather odd ring. The gun was developed by Captain H. Submachine Guns. It was heavy, which meant that it was difficult for infantry to handle effectively, and was outdated; by it was effective only at short ranges, and then only against armoured cars and light tanks. Undeterred, however, Blacker continued with his experiments and decided to try to invent a hand-held anti-tank weapon based on the spigot design, but found that the spigot could not generate sufficient velocity needed to penetrate armour. While other global militaries had settled on rocket-propelled grenades chemical energy for their anti-tank solution, the British Army's adoption of the PIAT was unusual in that the weapon relied on the "spigot mortar" principle requiring no complex rocket function or launching properties, keeping production costs in check and manufacture numbers steady.

Quando inglesi arrivare noi tutti morti. Although the PIAT was an effective for anti-tank combat, its principle of operation was exceptional and was not used in any other weapon. The pressure of the ignited powder launches the projectile off the spigot. Osprey Publishing. Wikimedia Commons. The bomb can penetrate the armour of the latest known types of enemy A. The design was attributed to Major Millis Jefferis who headed the Ministry of Supply, delving into the development of "special" weapons for the British military. Brabantia Nostra. August [1].

First use of the weapon came from Canadian forces during the invasion of Sicily of July and the weapon did not disappoint. A standing operator could suffer serious physical injury due to the inherently violent recoil action of the weapon. Help Learn to edit Community portal Recent changes Upload file. Several of these were produced in by the Parnell aircraft company for trials with the British army. It proved particularly effective in the close confines of urban warfare where hidden PIAT crews certainly held an edge against unsuspecting enemy tank crews. The Spigot Mortar simply could not fire a powerful enough bomb. The design was attributed to Major Millis Jefferis who headed the Ministry of Supply, delving into the development of "special" weapons for the British military. But if the bomb hit, it could take out any tank.

Those who liked it, they considered the weapon to be effective and simple to operate. Getting the bomb to detonate reliably against angled targets was troublesome and was addressed with revised fusing. The manual simply describes the service bomb as "H. From , one PIAT team was allocated to each infantry platoon in a jungle division [27] — the tropical light infantry formation that was the standard front-line Australian division in the South West Pacific theatre. Not an entirely popular weapon, the PIAT certainly filled a role and filled it effectively. PIAT was used by the British armed forces for some time after the Second World War, but was replaced by other weapons as soon as possible. First use of the weapon came from Canadian forces during the invasion of Sicily of July and the weapon did not disappoint. The Spigot mortar design allowed a large calibre powerful shaped charge bomb [7] giving greatly increased penetration power over the previous anti-tank rifles, allowing it to remain effective for the rest of the war; its construction was relatively simple and robust without a conventional barrel; there was no back-blast unlike the contemporary American bazooka that might endanger friendly troops and give the user's position away, this also meant that the PIAT could be used in confined spaces as in urban warfare; compared to the previous anti-tank rifles the muzzle blast was minimal, also a potential concealment issue. It was capable of penetrating 75mm of armor and could do substantial damage to buildings or other defenses even at its maximum range. Table of Contents.

MV Grenades were fed into the open trough at the front and the system actuated by the trigger in the usual way. Views Read Edit View history. To prepare the weapon for firing the spigot mechanism, which was operated by a large spring, had to be cocked, and to do this was a difficult and awkward process. In November during Operation Crusader , part of the North African Campaign , staff officers of the British Eighth Army were unable to find even a single instance of the Boys' knocking out a German tank. Namely, how to stop enemy tanks in their tracks. Submachine Guns. It was capable of penetrating 75mm of armor and could do substantial damage to buildings or other defenses even at its maximum range. It was this weapon that lay the foundation for the famous PIAT series for it was actually born of The PIAT was actually born of Blacker's work when he attempted to develop a handier, portable version that came to be known as the "Baby Bombard".

Once the trigger was pulled and the spring released, the resulting action activated the grenade's propellant charge. Brabantia Nostra. It was very heavy and bulky, which meant that it was often unpopular with infantry required to carry it. Rate-of-Fire: 2 rounds-per-minute. This light anti-tank weapon of the British infantry during the Second World War was the result of several years of trials and experiments by Lieutenant-Colonel Blacker. Instead of a barrel, there was a steel rod known as a 'spigot' fixed to a baseplate, and the bomb itself had a propellant charge inside its tail. The manual simply describes the service bomb as "H. The No. Enter your name or username to comment. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Beaumont—Adams revolver Enfield revolver Webley revolver Mk. Those who liked it, they considered the weapon to be effective and simple to operate. See also the bazooka , which had similar early problems. The weapon was heavy and unwieldy to carry, complicated and only to cock with great effort and generated enormous forces when firing. Conventional spigot mortar designs have a fixed spigot rod, for example the Blacker Bombard. Modern Military Vehicle News. Effective Range: ft 91 m; yd. Rounds were supplied in three-round ammunition cases with the propellant cartridge fitted and the fuses separate.

Tactical training emphasized that it was best utilized with surprise and concealment on the side of the PIAT team, and where possible enemy armoured vehicles should be engaged from the flank or rear. However, they also found that once German tanks had been fitted with armoured skirts that detonated shaped charge ammunition before it could penetrate the tank's armour, the weapon became much less effective. Year: When Blacker was posted to other duties, Major Millis Jefferis took up the project. This was accomplished by unlatching the shoulder pad and then standing on it while pulling the rest of the gun up. Subscribe today for digital or print delivery! Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd. As with many small arms the PIAT had its share of supporters and detractors.

Rounds were supplied in three-round ammunition cases with the propellant cartridge fitted and the fuses separate. In any case, the hollow charge grenade of the PIAT could disable any standard battle tank and was thus comparable in performance to the American Bazooka and German Panzerfaust , although no chemical energy but mechanical springs were used for firing. British elements found similar success during their romp through northern France following the D-Day landings of June This firing pin is a heavy steel rod which is pressed into the end of the projectile while it is on a simple rack. Grenades were fed into the open trough at the front and the system actuated by the trigger in the usual way. Retrieved 12 July MV The operator unlatched the shoulder pad and held it down with his feet with the muzzle of the weapon pointed upwards. To prepare the weapon for firing the spigot mechanism, which was operated by a large spring, had to be cocked, and to do this was a difficult and awkward process. Impressed with the weapon, the Ordnance Board of the Small Arms School had the faults with the ammunition corrected, renamed the Shoulder Gun as the Projector, Infantry, Anti Tank, and ordered that it be issued to infantry units as a hand-held anti-tank weapon.

The Boys was quite large and unwieldy, and yet only effective against light tanks at short ranges. Conventional spigot mortar designs have a fixed spigot rod, for example the Blacker Bombard. Each round the PIAT fired weighed about 0. The PIAT's general shape was tubular with a shoulder pad fitted to the rear and an open "trough", or tray, held at the front. Disclaimer Privacy Policy Cookies. Such important persons as the director of artillery and the assistant to the general staff agreed and on August 11, the weapon was officially dropped. Combat Engagement ranges reached out to approximately yards though effective ranges were within yards and typically shorter for sure "kill".

The PIAT also became a low-cost weapon that could be produced quickly during a time desperation for the British Empire. This consisted of a recessed metal cone placed into an explosive warhead; when the warhead hit its target, the explosive detonated and turned the cone into an extremely high-speed spike. Download as PDF Printable version. However, it was also heavy, especially when compared to U. It was this weapon that lay the foundation for the famous PIAT series for it was actually born of The PIAT was actually born of Blacker's work when he attempted to develop a handier, portable version that came to be known as the "Baby Bombard". The body was then slid back to the shoulder pad and latched. When Blacker was posted to other duties, Major Millis Jefferis took up the project. The London Gazette Supplement. August [1].

It had an effective direct fire range of yards meters. In this design the spring hits the charge of the projectile. And when fired, it produced a very heavy recoil. When Blacker became aware of the existence of shaped charge ammunition, he realized that it was exactly the kind of ammunition he was looking for to develop a hand-held anti-tank weapon, as it depended upon the energy contained within itself, and not the sheer velocity at which it was fired. Weapons of the British Empire and the Commonwealth of Nations — Due to these limitations, a new infantry anti-tank weapon was required, and this ultimately came in the form of the Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank, commonly abbreviated to PIAT. Various resistance forces used the weapon. This works without the barrel being used to actually launch the projectile.

Basic operation involved the main spring interacting with a centrally-positioned spigot which fit inside the hollowed tail of the grenade projectile. Frontline Feature. Blacker took exception to this and suggested to Jefferis that they should divide any award equally after his expenses had been deducted. Military Vehicles. Thanks to the large mono-pod on the front, the PIAT is well-balanced. The body of the PIAT launcher was a tube constructed out of thin sheets of steel, containing the spigot mechanism, trigger mechanism and firing spring. From , one PIAT team was allocated to each infantry platoon in a jungle division [27] — the tropical light infantry formation that was the standard front-line Australian division in the South West Pacific theatre. Action: Compressed Spring; Recoil-Cocked. The adjustable nature of the monopod allowed for a wide range of trajectories to be reached. While the PIAT could be fired from a prone or kneeling position, it all but required the user to stand to cock it.

A stranded tank was a sitting duck for artillery, anti-tank cannon or infantry ready to grenade and gun down the crew inside. It notes that the bomb has "Excellent penetration. Enter your name or username to comment. Though it was deemed impractical, it did lead to the development of the first tanks. By Military Vehicles Magazine. Book Reviews-Militaria Collecting. The pressure of the ignited powder launches the projectile off the spigot. The second soldier carried the ammunition and acted as the loader. It was effective against any of the lighter German vehicles and could stop a Panzer IV and Panther tank while also able to disable even the mighty Tiger I heavy tank as it did during the engagement at Arnhem. Such a device works without the usual barrel and replaces it with a hollow rear part with the projectile.

Table of Contents. Some of these places include Ortona and Normandy. At the time that he developed the Baby Bombard and sent it off the War Office, Blacker was working for a government department known as MD1 , which was given the task of developing and delivering weapons for use by guerrilla and resistance groups in Occupied Europe. As built, the PIAT measured a length of 3 feet and each projectile featured a 2. It did, however, serve its faults for the PIAT held a clunky, rigorous reloading scheme and was bulky to manage in the heat of battle at 32lbs with a 3lb projectile. Namespaces Article Talk. Within the restrictions of PIAT it was an astonishingly efficient weapon, but it would be inappropriate to call it popular among British and Allied soldiers. Due to these limitations, a new infantry anti-tank weapon was required, and this ultimately came in the form of the Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank, commonly abbreviated to PIAT. Muzzle Velocity: feet-per-second 76 meters-per-second. When the trigger was pulled, the spring pushed the spigot rod which has a fixed firing pin on the end forwards into the bomb, which aligned the bomb, ignited the propellant cartridge in the bomb and launched it along the rod and into the air.

The Spigot Mortar simply could not fire a powerful enough bomb. The PIAT was based on the spigot mortar system, and projected launched a 2. It had an effective direct fire range of yards meters. With the large loss of anti-tank weaponry at the Battle of Dunkirk in northern France, the British were forced to develop all-new, modern anti-tank measures for expected German invasion of the British mainland. Subscribe today for digital or print delivery! The recoil caused by the detonation of the propellant blew the spigot rod backwards onto the spring; this reduced the shock of recoil and automatically cocked the weapon for subsequent shots, eliminating the need to manually re-cock. It was effective against any of the lighter German vehicles and could stop a Panzer IV and Panther tank while also able to disable even the mighty Tiger I heavy tank as it did during the engagement at Arnhem. Each round the PIAT fired weighed about 0. It fired an 89mm HEAT round along with some special smoke rounds. After cocking the PIAT, the firing pin, which was propelled using the spring, activated the bomb's propellant, sending it out of the barrel.

Enter your website URL optional. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Museums, Clubs, Organizations. Once the trigger was pulled and the spring released, the resulting action activated the grenade's propellant charge. A contemporary —45 Canadian Army survey questioned army officers, who had recently left combat, about the effectiveness of 31 different infantry weapons. The following ammunition types were available in Confidence in the weapon was still lacking, however. Muzzle Velocity: feet-per-second 76 meters-per-second.

SMLE No. However, the weapon did have drawbacks. With each shot, there was a slight delay as the projectile ignited. The PIAT was a little lighter 15kg vs 16kg and smaller 0. In , however, General Blacker was transferred to MD1 Ministry of Defense 1 , a military facility for the investigation and development of unorthodox weapons, especially for secret operations. The distance covered on the spigot gives the projectile sufficient accuracy on its way to the target. Note, however, that troops were trained to cock the PIAT before expected use, and "in action the projector will always be carried cocked" but unloaded. Description It usually had a 2-man crew, but it could also be operated by 1 person.

Close Menu. The Spigot Mortar simply could not fire a powerful enough bomb. Once this was achieved, the body was then lowered and turned to reattach it to the rest of the weapon, and the PIAT could then be fired. Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. British elements found similar success during their romp through northern France following the D-Day landings of June Note, however, that troops were trained to cock the PIAT before expected use, and "in action the projector will always be carried cocked" but unloaded. Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd. Among other things, it was above all the ineffective light bombs of the weapon that led to this decision. MV

Military Vehicle History and Research. Despite its intended use as an anti-armor weapon by way of its High-Explosive, Anti-Tank HEAT standard projectile, the tactical value of the PIAT was slightly greater than that of the famous Panzerschreck and Bazooka for it was also cleared to fire a High-Explosive HE grenade and a smoke version - the former useful against "soft" targets such as infantry while the latter holding value as an effective smoke screen to cover movements by friendly forces or shroud enemy vision. Wikimedia Commons. By Military Vehicles Magazine. The PIAT remained in use until the early s. The moving spigot rod in the PIAT design was unusual, and served to help reduce recoil sufficiently to make it a viable shoulder fired weapon. Some of these places include Ortona and Normandy. History , development, service, specifications, statistics, pictures and 3d model.

From , one PIAT team was allocated to each infantry platoon in a jungle division [27] — the tropical light infantry formation that was the standard front-line Australian division in the South West Pacific theatre. Another notable, unorthodox weapon brought to light by this group became the "Sticky Bomb", otherwise known as the "Grenade, Hand, Anti-Tank No. Close Menu. Learn how your comment data is processed. For this outstanding effort he was awarded the Victoria Cross, but the general opinion among the soldiers was that he received the award mainly for shooting this thing from the hip and not for taking out two tanks. Previous Post Springfield M It notes that the bomb has "Excellent penetration. Next Post Military passport Wehrmacht. Engagement ranges reached out to approximately yards though effective ranges were within yards and typically shorter for sure "kill". By the time of the invasion of the Italian mainland, the problem was remedied.

The PIAT's general shape was tubular with a shoulder pad fitted to the rear and an open "trough", or tray, held at the front. The Boys was quite large and unwieldy, and yet only effective against light tanks at short ranges. As with many small arms the PIAT had its share of supporters and detractors. Blu Edizioni. Military Trader is packed full of the relics and stories about collecting that you love. During the Warsaw Uprising , it was one of many weapons that Polish Underground resistance fighters used against German forces. After reworking the Arbalest , Blacker introduced it there as a combined weapon for fighting tanks and bombing. And when fired, it produced a very heavy recoil. While a number of concepts were considered, Lieutenant Colonel Stewart Blacker of the Royal Artillery submitted a design that the Army adopted.